“I saw that he wanted to do this, so I started teaching him last year. He is still learning but he can cut really well. On weekends when I am not available or if it is busy, he always assists. I even have customers who come and say, ‘I want my hair cut by that boy’,” he said.

Two other children, who are 15 and 18 years old, also help out at the barbershop., who also who help at the barbershop.

“I don’t want these kids to be on the streets with nothing to do and be exposed to crime and drugs. I would rather keep them busy with something to do and to also teach them to make money for themselves,” said Mokweni.

Hairstylist and Vuyo Bene Development founder Vuyo Bene said they were working to introduce hairstyling in schools.

“We want it to be one of the subjects in schools so children can see it as a career as it is in demand. We are looking into training children from 10 to 15 years old to be hairstylists, in an attempt to keep them off the streets and so they can make some money of their own,” he said.

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GO! & Express is a weekly, East London and King William’s Town community newspaper with a circulation of 42 900 copie.
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